Review of Love Potions by Michelle M. Pillow w/a $25 GC giveaway!

Book Synopsis: Erik MacGregor, from a clan of ancient Scottish warlocks, isn’t looking for love. After centuries, it’s not even a consideration…until he moves in next door to Lydia Barratt. It’s clear that the shy beauty wants nothing to do with him, but he’s drawn to her nonetheless and determined to win her over.

Lydia Barratt just wants to be left alone to grow flowers and make lotions in her old Victorian home. The last thing she needs is a demanding Scottish man meddling in her private life. Just because he’s gorgeous and totally rocks a kilt doesn’t mean she’s going to fall for his seductive manner.

But Erik won’t give up and just as Lydia let’s her guard down, his sister decides to get involved. Her little love potion prank goes terribly wrong, making Lydia the target of his sudden embarrassingly obsessive behavior. They’ll have to find a way to pull Erik out of the spell fast when it becomes clear that Lydia has more than a lovesick warlock to worry about. Evil lurks within the shadows and it plans to use Lydia, alive or dead, to take out Erik and his clan for good.

“For the love of St. Francis of Assisi, someone call a vet. There is an injured animal screaming in pain outside,” Charlotte interrupted the flow of music in ill-humor.

Lydia lifted her forehead from the kitchen table. Her windows and doors were all locked, and yet Erik’s endlessly verbose singing penetrated the barrier of glass and wood with ease.

Charlotte held her head and blinked heavily. Her red-rimmed eyes were filled with the all too poignant look of a hangover. She took a seat at the table and laid her head down. Her moan sounded something like, “I’m never moving again.”

“You need fluids,” Lydia prescribed, getting up to pour unsweetened herbal tea from the pitcher in the fridge. She’d mixed it especially for her friend. It was Gramma Annabelle’s hangover recipe of willow bark, peppermint, carrot, and ginger. The old lady always had a fresh supply of it in the house while she was alive. Apparently, being a natural witch also meant in partaking in natural liquors. Annabelle had kept a steady supply of moonshine stashed in the basement. If the concert didn’t stop soon she might try to find an old bottle.

“Ly-di-ah!”

“Omigod. Kill me,” Charlotte moaned. “No. Kill him. Then kill me.”

“Ly-di-ah!”

Erik had been singing for over an hour. At first, he’d tried to come inside. She’d not invited him and the barrier spell sent him sprawling back into the yard. He didn’t seem to mind as he found a seat on some landscaping timbers and began his serenade. The last time she’d asked him to be quiet, he’d gotten louder and overly enthusiastic. In fact, she’d been too scared to pull back the curtains for a clearer look, but she was pretty sure he’d been dancing on her lawn, shaking his kilt.

“Omigod,” Charlotte muttered, pushing up and angrily going to a window. Then grimacing, she said, “Is he wearing a tux jacket with his kilt?”

“Don’t let him see you,” Lydia cried out in a panic. It was too late. The song began with renewed force.

“He’s…” Charlotte frowned. “I think it’s dancing.”

Since the damage was done, Lydia joined Charlotte at the window. Erik grinned. He lifted his arms to the side and kicked his legs, bouncing around the yard like a kid on too much sugar. “Maybe it’s a traditional Scottish dance?”

Both women tilted their heads in unison as his kilt kicked up to show his perfectly formed ass.

Peeps…this is the FUNNIEST book that I’ve read this year. I mean rolling on the couch, tears streaming, almost wetting my pants funny. The dialogue between every character is funny and perfect. You will have a smile on your face from the first page to the last page.

Don’t get me wrong, there is great plot, characters, suspense, men in kilts, spells gone wrong and yes, a humming horse. Trust me…its there. Oh and let’s forget about a ghost. Can’t forget about the ghost in Lydia’s house.

Lydia and Erik are two characters that no matter what is thrown at them, they work through it. Separately and together. Of course, once Erik’s magick and heritage are thrown in, it sounds a bit far fetched but in the end Ms. Pillow makes it seems plausible and realistic. I want to live in this world. Or at least be a fly on the wall in this world.

Ms. Pillow has created a world that its own. You don’t need a program to figure out the secondary characters or any of the settings. What she has created is world that is funny, filed with a big Scottish family that aside of the pranks, love each other and will do anything for them. Malina, the lone sister really stood out in the book. She’s called a banshee for good reason but beneath all of that, she is lovable. One other character stood out and that was Charlotte, Lydia’s best friend. I need her happy Ms. Pillow. That poor girl went through a lot. Talk about torture.

Erik and Lydia’s chemistry is off the charts. There are erotic elements in the book but nothing that would make someone not want to read it. In fact, there is one full smexy scene in the whole book and yes, its hot but in tune with the characters. Of course, Lydia isn’t herself at times and those times…OMG…funny, funny!

I love a good paranormal that isn’t normal. Love Potions is that book and I urge you to pick it up and read it. Its a great start to a series (I hope) that you can lose yourself in for a day and still think about the next day. With a smile on your face, too.

Author Bio: Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres. Ever since she can remember, she has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural—ghosts, magical powers, and oh! vampires. After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.

Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it’s a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She’s addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be in a horror movie as 1. A zombie or 2. The expendable screaming chick who gets it in the beginning credits. But for the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee in pajama pants.

She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website: www.MichellePillow.com

OMG! I not sure if I was supposed to laugh so much but I did. I loved this book, the characters and especially your writing style and voice. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next in the series.